Nearly Two Million Individuals Join High Net Worth Ranks As Wealth Levels Reach Another Record High: World Wealth Report 2014

Asia-Pacific narrows North America's lead in High Net Worth Population
to less than 10,000

TORONTO and PARIS, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - Improving economic and equity market performance helped add 1.76 million
people to the global High Net Worth Individual (HNWI)1 population in 2013, while the investable wealth of HNWIs grew by nearly
14 percent to reach a record high of US$52.62 trillion, according to
the World Wealth Report 2014 (WWR) released today by Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management. The report
notes that the 15 percent increase in HNWI population in 2013 is the
second-largest since 2000, surpassed only by immediate post-crisis
catch-up growth of 17 percent in 2009.

North America and Asia-Pacific remained in a close race for the world's
largest HNWI market by population in 2013, with growth in Asia-Pacific
narrowing North America's lead to less than 10,000 individuals. North
America's HNWI population expanded by 16 percent to 4.33 million, while
Asia-Pacific's grew by 17 percent to reach 4.32 million. North America
maintained its position as the wealthiest region, increasing its HNWI
wealth by 17 percent to reach US$14.88 trillion, though this growth was
again outpaced by Asia-Pacific, where HNWI wealth expanded by 18
percent to reach US$14.20 trillion. Europe's HNWI population grew by
12 percent to reach 3.83 million and its wealth at 14 percent to reach
US$12.39 trillion, both significant increases from the previous two
years. Latin America was again an exception to strong global HNWI
growth, with increases of only four percent in population and two
percent in wealth, due to slow GDP growth and challenged equity
markets.

"Overall, 2013 was another strong year for the High Net Worth market,
with surging equity markets and improving economies contributing to
double digit growth in both population and wealth levels," said M. George Lewis, Group Head, RBC Wealth Management & RBC
Insurance. "Looking at longer term growth trends, nearly 40 percent of
the current level of High Net Worth wealth has been created in the past
five years alone."

__________________________________1 HNWIs are defined as those having investable assets of US$1 million or
more, excluding primary residence, collectibles, consumables, and
consumer durables.

HNWIs took on a more global mindset with their wealth in early 2014
allocating over one-third (37 percent) of their assets outside of their
home region, up from one-quarter (25 percent) the year prior, according
to the Global High Net Worth Insights Survey in the WWR,2 capturing feedback from more than 4,500 HNWIs. While cash levels
remained high at 27 percent, allocations to alternative investments3 increased by three percentage points to represent 13 percent of
portfolios. There was a clear shift towards wealth growth among
ultra-HNWIs4 who reduced their focus on wealth preservation from 45 percent to 28
percent, in favor of growth (31 percent, up from 18 percent).

Confidence in wealth management industry climbs, but firms have more to
do to meet HNWI needs

HNWI trust and confidence in the wealth management industry surged, with
about three-quarters expressing high levels of trust in wealth managers
and firms in early 2014, up from 61 percent the year prior. Confidence
in financial markets and regulatory bodies also increased, up to 58
percent from 45 percent, and 56 percent from 40 percent respectively.
HNWIs remain optimistic about their future prospects, with 77 percent
feeling confident in their ability to generate wealth in the near
future.

Despite strong wealth growth and increasing confidence levels, HNWIs
gave their wealth managers lower performance ratings than last year,
down by four percentage points to 63 percent in early 2014. The most
substantial drop in ratings was in North America, at seven percent, but
this market continues to maintain the highest performance score of all
regions with a 77 percent rating, ahead of Middle East and Africa (69
percent), Asia-Pacific excluding Japan5 (68 percent), Latin America (67 percent), Europe (59 percent) and Japan
(46 percent).

Looking at how HNWIs want to be served by firms, they prefer to seek
professional advice (34 percent versus 21 percent not seeking advice),
work with a single firm (41 percent versus 12 percent multiple firms),
and receive customized services (29 percent versus 24 percent
standardized services). While HNWIs continue to prioritize direct
contact with their wealth manager (30 percent), versus digital contact
(26 percent), digital is gaining prominence, with almost two-thirds of
HNWIs expecting most or all of their wealth management relationship to
be run digitally within the next five years.

"Even though we are seeing an encouraging environment of high growth and
confidence, declining wealth manager performance scores indicate
opportunities still exist for firms to tailor their offerings to better
meet client needs," said Jean Lassignardie, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Capgemini Global Financial
Services. "One way to address the evolving demands of current and future clients
is to provide digital capabilities that move beyond simply having a
digital presence, to offering an integrated and seamless client
experience that incorporates digital at all touch points."

This year's WWR also highlights that the vast majority (92 percent) of
HNWIs feel that investing their time, money or expertise to make a
positive social impact is important to them, with 61 percent describing
it as very or extremely important. Globally, HNWIs are looking to firms
to play a greater role in supporting their social impact objectives.

Looking ahead, global HNWI wealth is forecast to reach a new high of
US$64.3 trillion by 2016, representing 22 percent growth from 2013
levels and approximately US$12 trillion in new wealth. Robust growth is
expected in most regions, with Asia-Pacific at the forefront with an
anticipated 9.8 percent annual growth rate, positioning the region to
be the largest HNWI market by population in 2014 and by wealth by 2015.

The World Wealth Report 2014
The World Wealth Report from Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management is the
industry-leading benchmark for tracking high net worth individuals
(HNWIs), their wealth, and the global and economic conditions that
drive change in the Wealth Management industry. This year's 18th
annual edition includes findings from the most in-depth primary
research works available on global HNWI perspectives and behavior.
Based on responses from over 4,500 High Net Worth Individuals across 23
countries, the Global HNW Insights Survey explores HNWI confidence
levels, asset allocation decisions, perspectives on driving social
impact, as well as their wealth management advice and service
preferences.
For more information, explore the interactive report website at www.worldwealthreport.com.

About Capgemini
With more than 130,000 people in over 40 countries, Capgemini is one of
the world's foremost providers of consulting, technology and
outsourcing services. The Group reported 2013 global revenues of EUR
10.1 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers
business and technology solutions that fit their needs and drive the
results they want. A deeply multicultural organization, Capgemini has
developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM, and draws on Rightshore®, its worldwide delivery model. Learn more about us at www.capgemini.com.

Rightshore® is a trademark belonging to Capgemini

About Capgemini's Financial Services Global Business Unit

Capgemini's Global Financial Services Business Unit brings deep industry
experience, innovative service offerings and next generation global
delivery to serve the financial services industry. With a network of
24,000 professionals serving over 900 clients worldwide Capgemini
collaborates with leading banks, insurers and capital market companies
to deliver business and IT solutions and thought leadership which
create tangible value. More information is available at: www.capgemini.com/financialservices.

About RBC Wealth ManagementRBC Wealth Management is one of the world's top 10 largest wealth managers*. RBC Wealth
Management directly serves affluent, high-net-worth and ultra-high net
worth clients in Canada, the United States, Latin America, Europe, the
Middle East, Africa, and Asia with a full suite of banking, investment,
trust and other wealth management solutions. The business also provides
asset management products and services directly and through RBC and
third party distributors to institutional and individual clients,
through its RBC Global Asset Management business (which includes
BlueBay Asset Management). RBC Wealth Management has more than C$690
billion of assets under administration, more than C$426 billion of
assets under management and approximately 4,400 financial consultants,
advisors, private bankers, and trust officers. For more information,
please visit www.rbcwealthmanagement.com.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is Canada's largest bank, and one of the largest
banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North
America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide
personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance,
investor services and capital markets products and services on a global
basis. We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who
serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and
institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 42 other
countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations,
sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2013, we contributed
more than $104 million to causes worldwide, including donations and
community investments of more than $69 million and $35 million in
sponsorships. Learn more at www.rbc.com/community-sustainability.

*Scorpio Partnership Global Private Banking KPI Benchmark 2013. In the
United States, securities are offered through RBC Wealth Management, a
division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Royal Bank of Canada. Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.